Burden of non-communicable diseases, occupational stress and quality of life among police personnel in Telangana, India: findings from a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Police personnel work under demanding conditions characterised by long duty hours, irregular shifts, exposure to traumatic events, and high occupational stress. These factors may contribute to unhealthy lifestyle behaviours and increase the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), adversely affecting their overall health and quality of life. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of major NCDs and identify associated lifestyle, occupational, and psychosocial risk factors among police personnel in Telangana, India. Methods: A cross-sectional baseline survey was conducted among 1,172 police personnel in Siddipet district, Telangana, from March to May 2022. Information on socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle practices, occupational stress, and quality of life was collected using validated questionnaires, Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and laboratory investigations. Results: The majority of participants (89.3%) were men, with a mean age of 38±9.7 years. Nearly 25% of them were physically inactive. 43.3% of employees had high levels of operational stress. Of the individuals, 22.3% had hypertension, 19.7% had diabetes, and 58.0% were overweight or obese. A larger burden of NCDs was substantially correlated with older age, male gender, alcohol intake, tobacco use, and physical inactivity. Higher levels of organisational and operational stress were reported by female employees. Nearly half of the participants reported having a higher overall quality of life despite these difficulties. Conclusions: Police personnel in Telangana face a considerable burden of NCDs and occupational stress. Strengthening workplace health promotion, regular screening, physical activity programs, and stress-management interventions may help reduce disease risk and improve overall well-being and quality of life.